MCG Workshops, Spring 2011: Affinage

Many thanks to Patrick Anglade for a “rough” two days of intensive learning. We enjoyed your humor, patience and are awed by your deep understanding of all things cheese! Thanks to all the participants, too, and State of Maine Cheese!

The Maine Cheese Guild is pleased to hold two hands-on, advanced cheesemaking workshops scheduled for this Spring, hosted by State of Maine Cheese Company in Rockport, Maine.

If all cheese looks and tastes like cottage cheese as it comes out of the pot, what turns that squishy mess of milk solids into cheddar or Camembert or Gouda or Gorgonzola or (even) Kraft(TM) Singles? It’s AFFINAGE, which is the French term for the process of taking curds and just pressed wheels of cheese and turning them into the sublime creations we expect to see in the refrigerated case of our favorite cheesemonger. Once you scoop your cheese out of the pot, it’s often a long way from becoming what you are hoping for, and many different factors will determine its fate: temperature, humidity, handling, molds, cultures, salt, and any extra sumpin’ sumpin’ (like leaves or herbs or wine or beer or cider) you choose to apply to it. Patrick will describe all of these processes for taking pressed curds and turning them into ‘the Feet of God.’

ABOUT THE GUILD

The Guild’s mission is to support and encourage the Maine cheesemaking community. We will do this through development of a collective voice to promote Maine cheese and cheesemakers, educate cheese makers and consumers, coordinate resources and share the joy and art of regional cheeses.